Bodily Harm

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By George Torr and PA news agencyBBC News

A woman who murdered a baby she was about to adopt has been jailed for at least 17 years.

Katie Tidmarsh inflicted catastrophic head injuries to one-year-old Ruby Thompson At Home in Leicester in 2012.

The 39-year-old tried to cover it up, claiming Ruby suffered the injuries when she collapsed.

Judge Mr Justice Mark Wall handed Tidmarsh a Life Sentence for the " murderous attack" on a " defenceless young child".

The Trial at Leicester Crown Court heard emergency services were called to Pickwell Close, Glenfield, on 11 August and Ruby was taken to hospital where she died Two Days later.

Jurors were told The Baby had suffered a complex skull fracture, spinal damage and bleeding on The Brain and eyes.

Tidmarsh claimed Ruby had been behaving in a " normal manner" before Her Eyes rolled into the back of her head and attributed the injuries to her collapse.

But The Judge said experts dismissed this and said her injuries were comparable to a " fall from a two or more storey building" and a " road traffic accident of More Than 60mph".

While in hospital, an X-ray examination found Ruby had sustained a broken bone in her arm about Two Weeks before.

Ruby had been taken to hospital at The Time but Tidmarsh claimed The Baby had been knocked over by one of her dogs while standing against a sofa.

But The Court heard Tidmarsh did not seek medical attention for Ruby's broken arm straight away and was only taken to hospital after the defendant's mother noticed she was " in discomfort and not using her arm properly".

The Judge told Tidmarsh she was " ill-equipped" to raise a child due to her Mental Health conditions.

The Court heard she had not told social workers on an adoption panel about her anxiety and depression when Ruby was placed in her care.

" You also tried to Cover Up what you had done by delaying medical treatment for Ruby, " The Judge said.

" You have steadfastly maintained that nothing happened to Ruby on The Morning of her collapse bar Her Eyes rolling into the back of her head and her falling backwards on to the rug.

" You abused her that morning And Then have lied to Cover Up what you did. "

Tidmarsh, now of Station Road, Littlethorpe, was found guilty of murder by majority verdict and guilty of one count of inflicting grievous Bodily Harm , also by majority verdict, on Thursday.

Decade-long process

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said police had gathered evidence and submitted a file in December 2013 for prosecutors to consider a charge of murder.

In February 2014, it was decided by the CPS not to charge anyone in connection with Ruby's death.

An inquest was held into Ruby's death, which concluded she died from a head injury, The Cause of which could not be established.

Three years later, the CPS said Tidmarsh became subject to separate court Proceedings - and additional medical experts were instructed for the hearing surrounding Ruby's case.

A judge ruled Tidmarsh had inflicted the injuries that resulted in Ruby's collapse and death.

This led to " further consultation" between officers and the CPS, and following additional medical expert evidence obtained by police, Tidmarsh was arrested and charged with murder In July 2022.

The Court was told bar two periods since The Incident , Tidmarsh " did not fear prosecution" up until her arrest.

The Judge told Tidmarsh: " The Evidence is that you were able to get on with your life confident that your past would not catch up With You .

" This delay has allowed you to carry on with your life while relatively young for 10 Years or more when you ought to have been in prison. "

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Source of news: bbc.com